Michigan's Trey Burke could become Magic's point guard of the future

Here come the doubters again, encircling Trey Burke just like they always have.

They argue he's "too short" to succeed in the pros. They question his athleticism. They wonder about his defense.

Never mind, they say, that Burke won consensus National Player of the Year honors his sophomore year at Michigan. Or that he sank the signature shot of the 2013 NCAA Tournament. Or that he led the Wolverines to the tournament's championship game.

"Just tell them the reason we have social studies as part of the curriculum to graduate from high school is because studying the past is the best predictor of the future," said Burke's high-school coach, Satch Sullinger. "When you study his past, he's a winner. He gets the job done. He's a great teammate. And he was a lot of fun to coach."

And Burke just might become the Orlando Magic's point guard of the future. The Magic hold the second overall pick in the June 27 NBA Draft, and they could use the selection to acquire Burke and groom him to become the eventual heir to Jameer Nelson.

"Whoever ends up drafting me, they're going to get a guy that's going to work hard, that's going to play with 110 percent effort on both ends of the court and that's going to make plays for the team and also be a leader out there."

Even the doubters don't question Burke's heart or his accomplishments during his two seasons at Michigan.

But some people question whether he's even the best point guard prospect in this draft.

He's been doubted before.

During his sophomore and junior seasons at Northland High in Columbus, Ohio, Burke spent the bulk of his time distributing the basketball to star teammates Jared Sullinger and J.D. Weatherspoon and running the team.

Northland won lots of games, including a state title, but Burke's scoring statistics suffered until his senior year.

In the meantime, Ohio State, which is located a few minutes away from Burke's high school, didn't recruit him zealously.

The Buckeyes regret that now.

Burke eventually signed with Michigan and became the Wolverines' most decorated player in years.

On March 29 in the Sweet 16, with the Wolverines trailing the Kansas Jayhawks by three points in the waning seconds of the second half, Burke dribbled the ball upcourt, cut to his left and unleashed a 30-foot heave.

The shot went in. The game went into overtime. And the Wolverines beat the Jayhawks to advance to the Elite Eight.

Michigan won two more games to reach the tournament championship, which it lost to Louisville 82-76 despite 24 points from Burke.

It was Burke's last game for Michigan.

With nothing left to prove in college, he now has plenty to prove in NBA circles.

He measured at 5-foot-11¾ in bare feet and 6-foot-1¼ in sneakers during last month's NBA Draft Combine in Chicago.

Burke thinks too much fuss has been made about his height.

"Looking at Chris Paul, he's a small guard and he came right in and started dominating," Burke said. "He came right in and he made an impact right away. He was able to make plays for his team and be a defensive threat. So I have no doubt in my mind I can come in and make an impact right away."

To guide him through the process, Burke has chosen his dad and also his cousin, NFL agent Alonzo Shavers, to work as his agents. He continues to train with Anthony Rhodman, a Columbus-based trainer who has worked with Burke since the summer of 2008.

The group is used to hearing doubts about Burke.

And they're used to seeing Burke erase those doubts.

"He thrives off of that," Rhodman said. "That's been pretty much with him his whole life. That's nothing new."

Orlando Magic swingman Arron Afflalo seemed to indicate Saturday on Twitter that he’s aware of the rumor that the Magic and the Los Angeles Clippers have discussed a potential trade that would involve him.